'Strictly Come Dancing': Shirley Ballas Promises To Be A Strict Judge As She Warns Contestants: 'Pull Your Socks Up' | HuffPost

She is bringing 40 years of dance experience to the panel.

By

Entertainment Editor, HuffPost UK

The ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ celebs had better watch out, as it seems new judge Shirley Ballas is going to be a tough critic.

The BBC ballroom show’s new Head Judge has revealed she will be “quite strict” when she takes up her seat on the panel, and has warned this year’s cast to “pull their socks up”.

Shirley Ballas is the newest 'Strictly Come Dancing' judge

PA Archive/PA Images

Shirley is stepping in to replace long-standing judge Len Goodman, who stood down after last year’s series, but it seems she’ll be harsher than her predecessor.

Speaking on a BBC iPlayer ‘Strictly’ special introducing the new stars, she said: ”I will be quite strict. To really impress me, the celebrity will have to have elements of technique, creativity and also the magic with your partner – chemistry.

“I’m bringing 40 years of dance experience along with all my coaching and judging so you better pull your socks up and be ready.”

Shirley also spoke about her new colleagues, revealing she’s going to be keeping Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli in check.

”My Saturday nights are going to be quite busy,” she said. “I’m going to have Bruno off to my left jumping up every two minutes, and Craig, who likes to dish out those twos. And what can I say about Darcey except she’s already perfect.”

Shirley is looking forward to working with her co-stars

PA Wire/PA Images

It was announced Shirley was joining ‘Strictly’ back in May, being one of the top and most decorated professional dancers in the world.

She is three-time British Open To The World Latin American champion, 10-time United States Latin American champion, and multiple-times British National champion. By the age of 21, Shirley had won nearly every major title she competed in worldwide.

She retired from competitive dancing in 1996, and now works as an acclaimed and respected international coach to many top professional and amateur dancers.

Among those who will be looking to impress her include The Saturdays singer Mollie King and ‘Loose Women’ host Ruth Langsford, ‘EastEnders’ actor Davood Ghadami, Good Morning Britain’s Charlotte Hawkins and former ‘X Factor’ stars Alexandra Burke and Aston Merrygold of JLS.

‘Strictly Come Dancing’ launches on Saturday 9 September at 7pm on BBC One.

'Strictly Come Dancing' Launch 2017

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(01 of34)

Left to right, Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Shirley Ballas and Bruno Tonioli at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2017 at Broadcasting House in London. (credit:PA Wire/PA Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(02 of34)

Alexandra Burke and Jonnie Peacock at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2017 at Broadcasting House in London. (credit:PA Wire/PA Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(03 of34)

Chizzy Akudolu and Simon Rimmer at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2017 at Broadcasting House in London. (credit:PA Wire/PA Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(04 of34)

Susan Calman (left), Aston Merrygold and Debbie McGee at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2017 at Broadcasting House in London. (credit:PA Wire/PA Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(05 of34)

Brian Conley and Gemma Atkinson at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2017 at Broadcasting House in London. (credit:PA Wire/PA Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(06 of34)

Davood Ghadami and Ruth Langsford at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2017 at Broadcasting House in London. (credit:PA Wire/PA Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(07 of34)

Mollie King at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2017 at Broadcasting House in London. (credit:PA Wire/PA Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(08 of34)

Shirley Ballas and Bruno Tonioli at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2017 at Broadcasting House in London. (credit:PA Wire/PA Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(09 of34)

Susan Calman (left), Aston Merrygold and Debbie McGee at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2017 at Broadcasting House in London. (credit:PA Wire/PA Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(10 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Joe McFadden attends the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(11 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Chizzy Akudolu attends the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(12 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Ruth Langsford attends the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(13 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Simon Rimmer attends the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(14 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Davood Ghadami attends the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(15 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Alexandra Burke attends the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(16 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Jonnie Peacock attends the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(17 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Brian Conley and Gemma Atkinson attend the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(18 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Brian Conley and Gemma Atkinson attend the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(19 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Alexandra Burke and Jonnie Peacock attend the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(20 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly attend the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(21 of34)

Reverend Richard Coles and Gemma Atkinson at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2017 at Broadcasting House in London. (credit:PA Wire/PA Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(22 of34)

Alexandra Burke at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2017 at Broadcasting House in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday August 28th, 2017 (credit:PA Archive/PA Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(23 of34)

Mollie King at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2017 at Broadcasting House in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday August 28th, 2017 (credit:PA Archive/PA Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(24 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Shirley Ballas and Bruno Tonioli attend the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(25 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Dancers Gorka Marquez, Anton Du Beke and Giovanni Pernice attend the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(26 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: AJ Pritchard attends the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(27 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: (L-R) Dancers Janette Manrara, Chloe Hewitt, Katya Jones, Amy Dowden, Oti Mabuse, Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova and Karen Clifton attend the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(28 of34)

Shirley Ballas at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2017 at Broadcasting House in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday August 28th, 2017 (credit:PA Archive/PA Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(29 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Contestant Debbie McGee with male dancers (back row L-R) Pasha Kovalev, Neil Jones, Brendan Cole, Anton du Beke, Giovanni Pernice, Aljaz Skorjanec, Gorka Marquez, Kevin Clifton and AJ Pritchard attend the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(30 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly attend the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(31 of34)

Gemma Atkinson at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2017 at Broadcasting House in London. (credit:PA Wire/PA Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(32 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Tess Daly attends the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(33 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Bruno Tonioli and Darcey Bussell attend the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017 Launch(34 of34)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Claudia Winkleman attends the 'Strictly Come Dancing 2017' red carpet launch at Broadcasting House on August 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)

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